How Brexit Changed Life in Lanzarote for British Visitors, Property Owners and Businesses
The island remains a favourite holiday destination—but the rules for living, working and spending time here have changed dramatically
For decades, Lanzarote has felt like a second home to thousands of British people.
Some visit for a fortnight every year. Others own apartments or villas, spend the winter months here, or have built their entire lives around the island. British residents have also played an important role in Lanzarote’s tourism industry, working in bars, restaurants, hotels, shops and excursion businesses.
But since Brexit, the relationship between the UK and the European Union has changed—and the effects are still being felt across Lanzarote.
For many British people, the biggest changes are not about whether they can visit the island. They still can. The real difference is how long they can stay, what permission they need to live here, and whether they can work in Spain.
For local businesses, the changes have also created additional recruitment challenges at a time when finding and retaining staff is already difficult.
1. British Visitors Can No Longer Stay as Long as They Once Could
Before Brexit, British citizens could move freely between the UK and Spain under EU freedom-of-movement rules. This made it possible for many people to spend extended periods in Lanzarote without applying for a visa.
Since the end of the Brexit transition period, British citizens travelling to Spain as visitors are generally subject to the Schengen short-stay rule:
Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
This applies across the Schengen Area, not just Spain. Time spent in other Schengen countries can count towards the same allowance.
For someone who used to spend four, five or six months in Lanzarote each winter, this has been a major change.
A British visitor can still come for a long holiday—but once their 90 days have been used, they generally need to leave the Schengen Area or have the appropriate visa or residence permission to remain longer.
The rule is explained by Spain’s official tourism guidance and the UK government’s travel advice.
What does the 90-day rule mean in practice?
Imagine someone who previously spent November to March in Lanzarote.
Under the visitor rules, they cannot simply arrive in November and stay until March as they once might have done. They must calculate their days in the Schengen Area and make sure they do not exceed the permitted period.
This has changed the way many people plan their winter escapes, including those who regularly visit the same resort year after year.
2. Owning Property Does Not Automatically Give You the Right to Stay Longer
One of the most frustrating changes for some British property owners is that owning a home in Lanzarote does not, by itself, provide the right to live in Spain or stay beyond the visitor allowance.
Someone may have owned an apartment or villa for 10, 20 or even 30 years. They may have paid local taxes, maintained their property and returned to the island every winter.
But unless they have the appropriate residence status or visa, property ownership does not exempt them from the 90-day-in-180-day rule.
This has come as a surprise to some owners who assumed that having a home in Lanzarote would allow them to continue spending as much time here as they wished.
The EU confirms that British citizens who want to stay longer than 90 days generally need the relevant national visa or residence permission.
Are there exceptions?
Yes. British citizens who were legally resident in Spain before the end of the Brexit transition period may be protected by the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
Those who qualify can retain rights to live and work in Spain, subject to the applicable documentation and requirements. The Spanish government has specific guidance for British residents covered by the agreement.
There are also different visa and residence routes for people who want to move to Spain now. The correct option depends on their circumstances.
The important point is that property ownership and residency are two different things. Anyone planning to spend more than 90 days in Lanzarote should check their position with the Spanish authorities or a qualified immigration adviser before travelling.
3. British Citizens Face More Barriers to Working in Lanzarote
Before Brexit, British citizens could work in Spain without needing additional immigration permissions now required for many non-EU nationals.
Since the transition period ended, British passport holders who do not already have protected residence rights generally need the appropriate authorisation to work in Spain.
The requirements depend on the type of job and the individual’s circumstances. For many ordinary local jobs, an employer may need to navigate a work and residence permit process before the person can legally begin employment.
The UK government’s guidance explains that British citizens moving to Spain to work for a Spanish employer generally need the relevant work and residence authorisation.
For someone who previously came to Lanzarote for a season and found work in a bar, restaurant or hotel, this now is almost impossible.
4. Lanzarote Businesses Have Lost Access to a Familiar Pool of Workers
Brexit has also contributed to recruitment difficulties for some businesses across Lanzarote.
Before Brexit, British workers could move to Spain and take up employment without the immigration barriers that now apply to many UK nationals. This made it easier for tourism businesses to recruit English-speaking staff from the UK.
Today, employers may face additional paperwork, permit requirements and uncertainty when considering British applicants who do not already have the right to work in Spain.
For bars, restaurants, hotels and excursion companies, this matters because English-speaking staff can be particularly valuable in a destination where British visitors form a major part of the tourism market.
Lanzarote’s hospitality sector is a major employer. Local reporting based on island employment data found that hospitality accounted for a substantial share of employment contracts in 2025, with foreign nationals making up a significant proportion of those employed in the sector.
Brexit is one factor—not the only one
It would be misleading to suggest that Brexit alone explains Lanzarote’s staff shortages.
Businesses also face challenges involving housing costs, wages, seasonal demand, working conditions and competition for experienced workers. The effects of the pandemic and changes in employment patterns have also played a role.
However, Brexit has removed an important source of flexibility for employers who previously recruited British workers with fewer administrative obstacles.
A recent article on Lanzarote’s tourism workforce also identified Brexit-related recruitment barriers as one of the pressures affecting businesses.
5. The Impact on Lanzarote’s Tourism Industry
The changes affect more than individual British visitors and employers.
Lanzarote’s relationship with the UK is deeply connected to tourism. British visitors support accommodation providers, restaurants, bars, shops, transport companies and attractions across the island.
When people who once spent several months here are limited to shorter stays, their spending patterns can change too.
Some property owners may visit for shorter periods. Others may explore whether a visa or residence route is available. Some may decide that spending an entire winter in Lanzarote is no longer practical.
For businesses, the challenge is to continue delivering the welcoming, English-speaking service that many visitors value while adapting to a more complicated recruitment environment.
6. Can British People Still Move to Lanzarote?
Yes. Brexit did not make it impossible for British citizens to move to Lanzarote.
However, British citizens who want to live in Spain now generally need to qualify for an appropriate visa or residence route. The requirements depend on factors such as whether someone intends to work, is financially self-sufficient, is studying, or is joining family.
People who were already legally resident in Spain before the end of the transition period may have rights protected by the Withdrawal Agreement.
Anyone considering a move should check the current requirements before making financial or property decisions. Official guidance is available through the Spanish government, the UK government and the relevant Spanish consulate.
7. What Has Not Changed?
British citizens can still visit Spain visa-free for short stays, subject to the 90-day-in-180-day rule and the usual entry requirements. They can still enjoy the island’s beaches, restaurants, attractions and year-round sunshine.
The island’s appeal has not disappeared. What has changed is the freedom to stay indefinitely, move here without formalities or take up local employment as easily as before.
For many people, that distinction is the heart of the Brexit story.
Lanzarote After Brexit: A Different Relationship with the UK
Lanzarote continues to welcome British holidaymakers, property owners and residents. But the practical relationship between the island and the UK is no longer the same as it was before 2021.
For visitors, the 90-day rule has changed how long they can stay. For property owners, owning a home no longer means they can spend unlimited time here. For businesses, recruiting British workers is almost impossible.
Brexit has not ended the British connection with Lanzarote—but it has made that connection more complicated.
And for an island whose tourism industry has been built in part on welcoming British visitors and workers, those changes are still being felt.
